Once a year in Ottawa there’s a “Doors Open” weekend. Various historically or culturally significant buildings open their doors to the public. I always get excited about it … imagine a free invite to see buildings that you pass by all the time and have always wondered about? Cool huh?
Here’s a list of the buildings that were open this year. In the past we’ve gone to the Supreme Court and two water-treatment plants: one old and one new.
This year I wanted to go check out the Ottawa main mosque. Sarah calls it “the moth.”
I’d like to state up front that we don’t follow any religion, and at this point in their lives the girls know only the bare minimum. But, once they’re old enough we’ll start teaching them a little more … about all religions. I don’t want to raise ignorant kids. And I believe that everyone should have a basic understanding of world religions.
I have my own beliefs, and they are vague and not particular to any religion, but on the whole we are practicing agnostics. Science reigns in our house. It might sound harsh to some, but when someone dies in our house they don’t go to heaven. They become part of the soil.
I find Islam fairly interesting mostly because I cannot relate to it on any level. It’s just, so, um, intense. Religion permeates every facet of a Muslim’s life. Prayer five times a day, washing beforehand, the whole men v. women thing? Wow.
But I like talking to people about it and learning about it. And I really wanted to see inside the building. It looks interesting from the exterior.
fyi: the tower on a mosque is called a minaret, it is usually built at one or more corners of the mosque and it is from this that the call to prayer is sounded. (source) In Ottawa the call to prayer was deemed contrary to local noise bylaws.
Upon entry we removed our shoes and succumbed to the tour.
“How long is the tour?” I asked. I worried that my girls wouldn’t be able to handle being in a quiet place of worship for longer than 10 minutes.
“Half an hour.”
Ugh. Would we survive?
The short answer: yes.
We spent 45 minutes wandering, looking and listening.
Our guides were immensely patient and open to questions. They explained the building (which, on the inside, wasn’t as spectacular as I had thought), and explained the basic tenets of their religion. There was no talk about current events although I was really tempted to get their perspective on a few things.
On the news that night were more reports about the vandalism of the mosque in Toronto. (Or shall I call it terrorism of the mosque? The actions of the perpetrators are intended to spark terror in the victims, are they not?) It made me feel really sad. I suddenly had a different perspective on things.
The guides were impressed with Emma and Sarah. They behaved wonderfully. I wonder what they took away from their visit to “the moth.”
